The First Cut is the Deepest

Saturday was a really busy day. My husband decided that he wanted to do the pool area up right this year, so he decided to finish the area in patio form so in the fall, we can plop a fire-pit up and have a little gathering area when the pool is taken down. Friday was packed full of that job as well as games in the evening. Russ was pretty burnt and didn't feel well from all the work done Friday (who loses 8 pounds in one day? Yeah...the incredible growing and shrinking man...my husband!), and we had various things planned as it was: Em had a b-day party for a friend, a graduation party, and I had a photo shoot scheduled for the evening. Due to the rain, all I could do was return the compactor we rented and run a few errands then head back home. I stopped at Walmart on the way home for some food for dinner (grill-able food), a present for the friend, and decided to get myself a handy-dandy mandolin slicer to make some grill-able sweet potato chips. (If you don't know what a mandolin slicer is....google it). I got my $11 slicer, the rest of the stuff, and headed home. We hit the various parties necessary then came home to make up some quick dinner before my shoot. I rinsed of my new slicer, cut a potato in half, stuck in (or so I thought) the guard and proceeded to make up some slices......four slices in, the guard slipped.....and my thumb went on through the slicer.

My first words uttered were "Crap. I totally just cut my thumb. Hmmm...." No emotion, no freaking out, I said it just like that. It didn't hurt, I just knew it felt deep. So I stuck it under the water in the sink......then it hit me....crap....that is deep...and it is seriously bleeding. Faith was there, and she asked if she should go get dad....I told her it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Now, I've been in this situation before...I was washing dishes and the glass broke, had to go and have about 5 stitches put in. That was about 10 years ago. My initial thought was "Can I just wrap it and go about my shoot? I DON'T have time for this!" Russ took one look, smiled and asked what the deal with my family and knives was, and informed me he was taking me in. A quick call to the BFF to take the girls and we were on our way.......

We had a relatively easy and quick visit to the ER this time. I hate the ER...hate it. I would almost rather bleed to death then go. But in retrospect....I guess it was good we went. I almost kicked the nurse (? maybe she was a doc or a nurse practitioner...I am not really sure) when she made me bend it.....and the tears were flowing when she jabbed that numbing needle RIGHT into the cut (or flap....it's really more of a flap) after the initial numbing didn't work. Then I knew nothing else of what they were doing because this time I chose not to watch as they cleaned and stitched that sucker up. Twelve stitches later, the side of my thumb was replaced to it's rightful location, and I was on my way! Russ took pictures...but I will spare you. It's nasty...looks like a horror film. If it weren't for my thumbnail that stopped it, I would've taken the whole side of my thumb off. Thank you Lord that when you were creating the human body, some thousands of years later, you knew I would buy a mandolin slicer and use it incorrectly. ****sigh****

So I have a gimpy thumb. I have three shoots to edit, a disgusting house to clean, a shower to throw for a friend, and softball games to attend all week. I really didn't need that $11 slicer that turned into a $136 slicer after the ER copay.

Ironically, as I was being checked into the ER, Sheryl Crowe's song "The First Cut Is The Deepest" was on the receptionist's radio......I had to smile and have a good laugh about that one.